I also have a chapel train & an outdoor, grass wedding. Our plan is to have an aisle runner on the lawn. It will be strewn with petals to preserve that outdoorsy feel, but the runner will protect my dress. Then, for our outdoor reception, my seamstress is putting in a 3-point bustle so I can keep the train out of harm’s way. Don’t know how “clean” that will keep the dress, but I’m pretty sure it’s the best I can do to keep it from getting torn, which is my first priority.

Yeah – that was the answer I kind of didn’t want to hear but I am thankful for your response!! I have been in a wedding with an aisle runner on grass and my escort actually tripped on it and we both very nearly fell.

I am wondering if there is any way to coat the bottom of the train with something to prevent stains??

My ceremony wasn’t on the grass but we took pictures on it afterward and nothing got on my dress. I got more dirty when I was taking pictures in the dirt before the ceremony and had to brush my dress off before the ceremony.

im thinking about doing this for my shoes so they dont get stained by the grass as my ceremony is outside too. depending on the frabric of your dress, i think you can scotchgaurd the bottom. dont know that for sure but its something id look into and will have to because mines a chapel length aswell.

I’m having a short train on grass. I’ll probably leave it down unless it seems wet out, and in that case I’ll just bustle it for the whole thing (ceremony and reception). I didn’t really want a train anyway, I just couldn’t find a dress I liked without one 😉

I was chatting with my photographer and he said in talking that often brides refuse to take pictures outside because they’re afraid of getting their dresses dirty. But even just walking around inside in your dress will get it pretty dirty. Nobody will see the underside of your dress unless you lift it up and if it’s not wet you should be fine for the short time that it won’t be bustled.